King Coal is a long time enemy of Knight and Squire, who leads a criminal gang based in Newcastle, who are at odds with the Pearly Court. He formed an alliance with the Religion of Crime and attempted to bomb London, to usher in a "new age of crime", by planting people strapped with explosives at different locations. One of those people was Eddie English a member of the Pearly Court. Batman managed to rescue him and in return Pearly English helped Batman find the location of a hidden Lazarus Pit, where Coal was present. While Batman and company arrived at the pit, Coal set of a bomb planted in the area causing them to be trapped in the rubble and severely wounding Batwoman. Coal was eventually captured by Knight and Squire at his headquarters.

Note: Old King Coal was first mentioned only in JLA: Classified #2, but actually appeared in Batman and Robin #7